Love in the face of fear and violence
It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact ‘favourite moment’ in the trip to
Vietnam. Still, one of the most remarkable memories and sentiments I have of
this wonderful country is about the resilience of the people to come back from
violence, hate, and war; instead choosing compassion and peace.
This was particularly true when we visited the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi
Minh City, showcasing the cruel and devastating timeline and impact of the
Vietnam War on the country and its people. As I walked in, the first sections
of the museum detailed the atrocities of the war, from children fleeing areas
in Vietnam to Agent Orange being used as a mass weapon. The images were
confronting and emotionally moving to see, and there were more than a few times
when I had to recompose myself before continuing.
Near the end of the museum was a section focusing on the Agent Orange
attacks, and the lives of those affected with disabilities due to the gas. I
was fighting off tears as I felt the fear and violence witnessed by and
impacting millions of innocent lives in the war, but the end of the section is
what still sticks with me now; the end featured rows of photographs and
comments about the remarkable feats achieved by those with disabilities due to
Agent Orange, and the compassion modelled by nurses, teachers, and the population
of Vietnam in caring for children and adults that the Vietnam War had mentally
or physically changed.
Vietnam is a country that has been torn apart by war, violence, and division over centuries, but in visiting this museum and in the interactions I had with all the locals, I sensed a stronger emotion; love. Love for us tourists, love for each other, and love for their country, despite the harrowing past. They have every reason to be spiteful, but choose kindness over hate, and that has made all the difference. When I think about my own life, the pain I’ve had feels minuscule compared to the atrocities witnessed by people such as my researched soldier, Aldy Aldenhoven, encouraging me to choose peace in times of conflict and love in every interaction I have. I do this because those in Vietnam and abroad - civilians and soldiers, alive or deceased, carrying a past of division and violence on their shoulders - have endured the hardest of circumstances with smiles and compassion.
In understanding the history of the Vietnam War and honouring the lives lost, I choose to be kind.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the other awardees, Aaron, Tracey, Adam, Bex, Lara, and Dennis for facilitating this life-changing trip and providing life-long memories that won’t be soon forgotten.
That is so Awesome
ReplyDelete